Polyps of the Cervix
(Cervical Polyps)
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Cervical polyps may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
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Usually, cervical polyps do not cause any symptoms, but they may cause bleeding or a puslike discharge.
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Doctors can usually diagnose cervical polyps during a pelvic examination.
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Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination.
About 2 to 5% of women have cervical polyps. They may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination in the doctor’s office. No anesthetic is needed. Bleeding rarely occurs after polyps are removed. If it does, a caustic substance, such as silver nitrate, is applied to the affected area with a swab to stop the bleeding.
Polyps are examined to confirm that they are not cancerous.
If symptoms (bleeding and a discharge) persist after polyps are removed, a sample of tissue from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) may be examined under a microscope (endometrial biopsy) to exclude endometrial cancer.
